Seal



Dec. 22, 1942. w, w. MEYER 2,305,725

. SEAL Filed June 15, 1939 j i 11 I /G- Z.'

a; as r ,1 v ATTQRNEYE Patented Dec. 22, 1942 SEAL Walter W. Meyer, Arlington Heights, 11]., asslgnor to Rotary Seal Company, Chicago, I Il., a corporation of Illinois Application June 15, 1939, Serial No, 279,295

6 Claims.

My invention relates in general to seals and sealing and has more particular reference to the provision of means for sealing relatively rotatable, interconnected conduit-forming portions at the connection thereof.

An important object of the present invention is to provide for sealing a rotatable pipe or conduit within a relatively stationary casing; a further important object being to provide improved means sealed against leakage for introducing liquid to lo rotating-elements; a still further object being to provide means for delivering cooling liquid, such as water, from a source comprising stationarymains, into a rotating element, suchas a drum or roller required to be cooled.

Another important object resides in providing a seal of the character described, wherein the fluid is delivered to a rotating pipe or conduit extending within a casing, and wherein 'annular sealing means through which the pipe or conduit extends is employed to form a liquid-tight seal between the conduit and the surrounding surfaces of the shell orcasing; a further object being to provide means for delivering fluid to rotating elements, including a delivery casing, and means to seal the casing upon a pipe or conduit which rotates with the rotating receiver, wherein the sealing means serves also to support the'casing on said rotating conduit, including flexible means fordelivering fluid to the casing for transfer thence through the rotating pipe or conduit to the point of delivery.

Another important object resides in the provision of means for yieldingly journalling the rotatable conduit within the delivery casing and :25 at the same time to provide a self-aligning seal providing adequate sealing at all times, regardless of relative wobble of the Easingwith respect to the conduit. v

These and numerous other important objects, 140 advantages and inherent functions of the invention will become apparent as the same is more fully understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawing,

Figure l is a sectional view through sealed delivery means embodying my present invention; and

Figure 2 is an assembly view showing in perspective parts forming the seal illustrated in Figure" l. a 7

To illustrate the invention, I have shown on the drawing sealed delivery means il through which a fluid from a suitable source (not shown) v may be conducted to' a receiver I3 adapted for relative rotation with respect to the fluid source. In the illustrated embodiment, the rotatable receiver I3 comprises a hollow drum having cylindrical wall portions i5 and end walls l'l, the

drum being suitably supported for rotary movement, as in bearings. Rotary receivers of this general character are found in many industries and frequently require the delivery of fluid to the receiver from a stationary source while the receiver rotates with respect to such source, and

my present invention proposes means having manifold novelties and advantages for delivering fluid, such as cooling water, to the receiver, re-

gardless of the form, construction and arrangement of the receiver, my invention, of course,

being not in any way restricted-to the construction of the receiver or the manner in which it is mounted for rotation and rotated in its mount- The liquid delivery means it of my present invention-preferably comprises a pipe or conduit 2| having an end formed for connection with the hollow receiver i3. This connection,- iii-course, may be made in any suitable fashion, preferably providing fixed connection of the pipe and receiver. I prefer, however, to form the receiver end of the pipe 2i with screw threads 23 adapted to sealingly flt into a threaded opening formed in the receiver l3, preferably in the end wall I! thereof, in coaxial alignment with the rotary axis thereof. outwardly of the threaded end portion 23 the pipe is or may be formed with flattened portions 25 affording a means for gripping the pipe, as with a tool, in threading the same into the receiver ii.

The end of the pipe 2| opposite the end carrying the screw threads 23 extends within a housing or casing 21 having a preferably cylindrical cavity at one end and a fluid-receiving chamber 29 in alignment within the casing, a cylindrical cavity and chamber being separated in the casing by an annular rib 3| formed preferably integrally and within the casing 21. The annular rib or ridge ll forms an opening 33 to and into which the end of the pipe 2i extends The casing 21 is formed with a boss 35 havin a threaded opening for the reception of a supply conduit preferably in coaxial alignment with the opening 33 and the pipe 2 I. The casing 21 preferably has an additional boss 31 likewise containing a preferably threaded opening into the chamber 29 in a direction radially of the axis of the pipe 2|, so that fluid supply conduit means 39 may be connected in either of the bosses 35 or 31, the opening in the other, of course, being suitably plugged with a threaded stopper, or supply conduits may be connected in both bosses.

shown in Figure 1-, the conduit means 39 comprises a stub pipe 4| tightly threaded in the.

embossment 91 and havinga portion projecting outwardly of the embossment in position to receive apreferably flexible hose 43, oneend of which is secured, as by a suitable clamp45, upon the projecting end, of the stub pipe II, the other end of the hose #3 being connected in communication with a fluid supply source, such as a sta tionary water main.

Liquiddelivered through the flexible hose 43 into the chamber 29 may escape thence through the pipe 2| and into the rotating receiver l3, and I provide in the casing 21 means for resiliently journalling the pipe within the casing sustained in position on the pipe by the rotating device l3. The casing 21 is thus able to follow any eccentric movement imparted to the pipe 2| during rotation as a result of faulty alignment of'the pipe with respect to the axis of rotation of the receiver l3, or inaccuracies in the bearings on which the receiver 3 is supported. The arra-ngement thus facilitates and promotes adequate sealing of the conduit 2| within the chamber 21 and eliminates the difficulties of sealing the pipe 2| in a rigidly supported casing.

To journal and seal the casing 21! upon the pipe 2|, I provide seal means comprising one or more bearing elements 5| in which the pipe 21! is journalled, and one'or more resilient, preferably rubber-like elements which may conveniently comprise synthetic rubber, by means of which the bearing elements are resiliently held in place in the casing 21. x

The bearing means 5| preferably comprises a material suitable for operation as a bearing on contact with moisture, and I prefer to use carbon for this purpose. Other suitable bearing materials having the desired characteristics, however, may, of course, be employed.

The bearing element 5| comprises a cylindrical portion 55 and an annular flange portion H formed preferably integral with and at one end i of the cylindrical portion to form an element having substantially L-shaped sectional configuration. The outside diameter of the cylindrical portion 55 is slightly smaller than the diameter of the opening 33,- while the inside diameter of l the element is such that the same may form a Journal for the pipe 2 I.

A journal element 5| is assembled with its cy-- lindrical portion 55 extending in the opening 351 at the inner end of the pipe 2| with a resilient gasket 53 received between the annular rib 3| and the flange 51 of the bearing element, so that said element is' resiliently supported in the casing by the annular mounting element 53.

In Figure 1 of the drawing I have illustrated a seal embodying two bearing elements 5|. In this embodiment the pipe 2| is formed with an outstanding annular flange 59 spaced from the inner end of the pipe 2| a distance equal to the length of the bearing element 55 so that one side of the flange 59 bears on the end of the bearing element opposite the end thereof that extends in the opening 39.- The second bearing element 5| is assembled on the conduit 2| in position such that its flanged end bears against the side of the flange 59 so that said flange 59 extends between the flanged ends of the bearing elements 5|, thereby forming a thrust bearing.

I prefer to provide, also, a spacing ring 6| of any suitable, preferably metallic material extending between the peripheral edges of the flangedends of the bearing elements 5|, the ring 6| fitting snugly within the pipe containing chamber of the casing.

The cylindrical portion 55 of the bearing element remote'from the end of the pip -carries a resilient gasket 53 which extends between said cylindrical portion of the bearing element and the inner wall of the chamber in the housing 21. flanged end of the bearing element and a holdingring 63 of any suitable material.

Both of the bearing elements 5| are thus mounted resiliently within the casing 21 by means of the yielding packing elements 53, and all of the elements, including the bearing and packing elements and the spacing and retaining elements 6|. and 63, are held in place with the packing eleunder slight compression, form tight fluid seals, and at the same time resiliently mount the bearin'g elements in self-aligning fashion.- Leakage along the pipe between its outer surfaces and the bearing elements 5| is prevented by means of a seal assembly 8|, which is mounted on the shaft between the end of the outer bearing element 5| and retaining means 83 on the pipe 2|.

The sealing means 8| comprises a seal ring 83 of any suitable bearing material adapted to encircle the pipe 2| in position to bear upon and form a running fit with a seat provided at the The seal" facing end of the bearing element 51. also comprises an annular sealing gasket 85 of preferably soft flexible sealing material and having a cylindrical portion 81 adapted to snugly and frictionally engage the outer surface of the pipe 2|. The annular sealing element 85 also comprises a portion 89 forming an annular flange at the end of the cylindrical portion 81 in position to lie against the ring 83 to form a seal therewith. The element 85 preferably comprises synthetic rubber, although any suitable rubber-like or suitable fiexible sealing material may be used.

The sealing elements 83 and 85 are preferably, though not essentially, secured together in a fashion tending to prevent relative rotation therebetween. To this end I provide a preferably sheetmetal, retaining shell 9| having a cylindrical portion adapted to embrace the peripheral surfaces This resilient gasket is held between the times effectively tight.

ing shell serves as a seat or bearing plate for receiving the thrust of one end of a spring 95 adapted to encircle the pipe 2| and bear at one end upon theback of the flanged portion 89 through the flange 93 operating as a thrust plate, the opposite end of the spring 95 bearing upon a collar 91 which is held in place upon the pipe 2| by means of the holding member 83'.

It will be noted that the resilient sealing element 85 has a substantially L-shaped sectional configuration. It will be noted, also, that the force of the spring 95 is applied to the outer or peripheral portions of the flange 89 which may thus have a substantially diaphragm action to accommodate any relative axial movement of the pipe with respect to the bearing element 5| against which the ring 83 forms a running fit.

In orderto increase the sealing effect of the cylindrical portion 81 upon the outer surfaces of the pipe 2|, a holding band 99 may be" applied thereon in order to squeeze the same tightly upon 1 the pipe.

It will be seenfrom the foregoing that I have provided adequate, though resiliently mounted, bearing means 5| for journalling the casing 21 upon the pipe, at the same time sealing the assembly against leakage of ,liquid between the bearings 5| and the casing, through the action' of the yielding packing 53 applied under slight compression. Leakage of liquid through the bearings 5| is prevented by the running seal provided between the ring 83 and the facing end of the bearing 51, and leakage is prevented along the pipe through the ring 83 by means of the packing 85 which, being of elastic, rubber-like material, tightly grips the pipe by the cylindrical portions 81 of the seal, and the flanged portions 89 thereof are firmly pressed into sealing engagement with the ring 83 bymeans of the spring 95, which atthe same time urges the seal assembly 8| in a direction on the pipe to maintain the running seal between the elements 5| and 83 at all This eflective tightness is maintained, regardless of relative wobble of the casing 21 with respect to the pipe, because the bearings 5| are yieldingly mounted in the casing and are to a degree self-aligning, whilethe seal ring 83 also has self-aligning characteristics because of the flexible diaphragm action of the flange 89.

The construction provides mechanical support for the casing 21 from the rotating receiver i3 through the pipe 2|, the casing 21, however, remaining relatively stationary, while the pipe 2| may rotate within the casing, thereby permitting the casing to be connected with a stationmy source of fluid from which it may be de-.

sired to deliver liquid into the receiver. l3.

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and'arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A seal for coupling a pipe and a casing hav-- ing a cavity defined by cylindrical wall surfaces and enclosing anend of the pipe, comprising a sleeve bearing and an additional bearing arranged in the casing in position encircling the pipe, said bearings each having a pipe engaging portion and a peripheral mounting portion extending radially outwardly and fitting within the cylindrical wall surfaces of the casing, means cooperatively associated with said mounting portions for maintaining the bearing in axially spacedrelationship in the casing, means carried by said sleeve bearing and forming an annular seal seat, 'an annular seal ring adapted for mounting on said pipe inposition to engage and form a running seal with the seat, and resilient means frictionally engaging the seal ring and said pipe to drivingly connect and seal the ring and pipe together.

2. A seal for coupling a pipe and a casing as set forth in claim 1, including resilient gasket means sealing the space between the casing and the means forming the seal seat.

3. A seal as set forth in claim 1, wherein the pipe is formed with an integral outstanding flange extending between and engaging the facing ends of the pipe engaging portions of the bearings.

4. The combination of a hollow shell having an open end, an internal annular shoulder extending inwardly in said shell in position spaced from and facing said open end to define in said shell a bearing chamber and a receiving chamher on opposite sides of said shoulder, a pipe extending in said bearing chamber and having an inner end disposed substantially at said shoulder in position opening upon said receiving chamber, the opposite end of said pipe extending outwardly of the open end of said bearing chamber, means in said bearing chamber interconnecting the shell and pipe for relative rotation the one with respect to the other and to seal against fluid leakage through said bearing chamber, outwardly of said pipe, between said receiv-' ing chamber and said'open end of the shell, said I means comprising a resilient gasket on said shoulder, a sleeve bearing turnably supporting the inner end of the pipe and having a portion extending within said gasket and a remote portion formed with an outstanding flange enclosing and compressing said gasket on the internal "annular shoulder of said shell, an additional bearing spaced from said sleeve bearing and turnably supporting said pipe in said bearing chamber, one of said bearings forming an annular seal seat, an annular seal ring on said pipe, and resilient means normally urging said seal ring on said pipe in a direction to engage and form a running seal with said seat.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 including a seal gasket of resilient rubber-like material having a tubular portion encircling and gripping the pipe adjacent the seal ring, and an annular integral flange portion engaging the seal ring, said resilient means holding the flange portion of the seal gasketin firm sealing engagement with said seal ring.

flange.

- WALTER W. MEYER. 

